Underrated Rainbow Cichlids & Stunning Black Venezuelan Corydoras | Weekly Stock Update
Welcome back to Pond Life Aquatics! This week I wanted to show off two species that I think are genuinely brilliant and often overlooked.
We've got Rainbow Cichlids from Central America and Black Venezuelan Corydoras, and these two fish couldn't be more different in terms of their water requirements. Let's get into it.
Rainbow Cichlids (Archocentrus multispinosus)
Right, so if you live in the South of England where we have harder, more alkaline water, you'll know the struggle. So many of the most popular fish in the hobby prefer soft, acidic conditions - and while many will adapt, they're never quite at their best.
Enter the Rainbow Cichlid. These Central American beauties are criminally underrated in the trade, and I genuinely think they deserve way more attention than they get.
Water Parameters
Rainbow Cichlids want harder, more alkaline water - which puts London tap water right in their sweet spot:
- pH: 7-8.5 (ideal around 8)
- GH: 8-15
- Temperature: 24-28°C
This makes them a brilliant alternative if you've been struggling to keep soft water species happy, or if you're interested in breeding cichlids without constantly fighting your tap water.
Tank Setup
You're looking at a minimum of a four-foot tank for these guys. They're not massive fish, but they need space - especially if you're hoping for breeding behaviour.
Unlike your dwarf South American cichlids like Apistogramma, Rainbow Cichlids don't need dense planting. In their natural habitat, you're looking at rocky rivers with decent flow, not those still, leaf-littered tributaries.
Think:
- Plenty of rocks and wood to break up sightlines
- Hardy plants like Anubias and Java Fern that can handle flow
- Sand substrate - these are diggers!
- Strong filtration with good flow
That last point is important. These fish come from fast-flowing rivers, so they need decent water movement through the tank.
Breeding Behaviour
This is where Rainbow Cichlids really shine. They're a truly paternal species - once they pair bond and spawn, both parents take care of the eggs and fry. You won't have the heartbreak of watching them eat their own babies like some cichlids do.
They'll dig out caves in the substrate for spawning, and then you'll see them herding their fry around the tank. It's genuinely fascinating behaviour to watch.
Tank Mates
Because they can be territorial when breeding, think about tank mates carefully:
Good choices:
- Larger livebearers like Swordtails (they'll appreciate the same water parameters)
- Robust tetras like Colombian Tetras
- Buenos Aires Tetras at a push
Avoid:
- Fancy Guppies (too slow, too fragile)
- Most Corydoras (wrong water parameters and won't appreciate the flow)
- Anything small enough to eat once they're breeding
Honestly, if I was setting up a semi-aggressive Central American tank and had to choose between these or Convicts, Rainbow Cichlids are an absolute no-brainer. When they mature, the males develop this incredible iridescent yellow-blue colouration that makes the name "Rainbow Cichlid" suddenly make perfect sense.
Black Venezuelan Corydoras (Corydoras aeneus)
Now for something completely different. These Black Venezuelan Corys are on the opposite end of the water parameter scale - soft, acidic water species from South America.
What Makes Them Special
Black Venezuelan Corydoras are a colour morph of Corydoras aeneus - probably the most common Cory in the hobby. If you've ever kept Bronze Corys or Albino Corys, they're the same species.
But the Venezuelan blacks offer something different. That deep, dark colouration with the bronze tips to their fins is genuinely striking, especially against a light substrate.
Water Parameters
In the wild, C. aeneus are found in Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, and throughout South American tributaries. They live in soft, acidic waters with muddy, sandy substrates and lots of leaf litter.
However - and this is important - C. aeneus are incredibly adaptable. They've been bred in captivity for so long that they'll tolerate a much wider range than most Corydoras:
- pH: 6-8 (can push to 8.5 if needed)
- GH: Low to moderate
- Temperature: 22-26°C
This adaptability makes them ideal for beginners who can't easily modify their tap water.
Tank Requirements
- Minimum tank size: 60 litres
- Group size: 6 or more (they're social fish)
- Substrate: SOFT sand only
That substrate point is crucial. Corydoras have barbels - those little whiskers they use for navigation and feeding. Sharp gravel will damage them over time, leading to infections and shortened barbels. Always use fine, soft sand.
Tank Mates
Corydoras are some of the most peaceful fish in the hobby. They'll work with almost any community setup:
Good choices:
- Tetras
- Rasboras
- Peaceful dwarf cichlids
- Other Corydoras species
- Livebearers
Avoid:
- Boisterous loaches that'll push them around
- Large predatory catfish
- Aggressive cichlids like Firemouths or Dwarf Parrots
Breeding
If you want to get into fish breeding, Black Venezuelan Corys are one of the easiest species to start with. C. aeneus in general are THE species that people accidentally breed - you'll just find eggs on your glass one morning.
Because their fry are slightly larger than species like Pygmy Corydoras, they can take prepared foods almost immediately. A good Corydoras tablet crushed up will give them fine particles to graze on from a very young age.
Coming Next Week
I've got a big order arriving, and one species in particular that I'm really excited about - a fish that until recently was extinct in the wild, and has been reintroduced through the efforts of fish breeders. Keep an eye out for that one.
Black Friday Extended
We're extending our Black Friday tank deals through December, so if you're looking for a last-minute Christmas gift or finally setting up that tank you've been thinking about, now's the time.
Visit Us
Pond Life Aquatics Finchley Nurseries, Burtonhole Lane Mill Hill, London NW7 1AS
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9am-5:30pm Sunday: 10am-4:30pm
Contact: Website: www.pondlifeaquatics.co.uk Instagram: @pondlifeaquatics